Totally relate to the “character” in bedrooms—sometimes you just have to pick your battles. I’m convinced there’s a special breed of buyer who’s only happy if they find a flaw. I’ve tried those “miracle” primers too, and honestly, flat paint hides more sins than any of them. At the end of the day, if the main living spaces look good under normal light, I call it a win. The rest? That’s just the charm of a lived-in house.
Flat paint really is the unsung hero for hiding less-than-perfect joints. I’ve spent way too many hours chasing “perfect” seams, only to realize that under normal lighting, nobody notices except me (and maybe that one nitpicky friend). Here’s what’s worked for me: after taping and mudding, I use a 12-inch knife for the final coat—wider is better for feathering those edges. Sand with a pole sander, but don’t go crazy; over-sanding just makes more work. I skip the fancy primers and stick with a basic drywall primer, then two coats of flat paint. If you catch a ridge or two in the right light, well, that’s just part of the house’s story. Bedrooms and closets? I don’t lose sleep over those. Main rooms get the extra attention, but I draw the line somewhere. Perfection is overrated, especially if you want to keep your sanity.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I used to obsess over every little imperfection, but after my third room, I realized most folks never notice unless the sun hits just right. I’ll admit, I still use a spotlight to check my work sometimes—old habits die hard. But yeah, flat paint is like magic for hiding those tiny flaws. Closets? If it’s smooth enough not to snag a sweater, I’m calling it done.
- Been there with the spotlight trick—sometimes I think I’m just torturing myself.
- In these old houses, I swear nothing is square, so chasing perfect seams is a losing battle anyway. I focus on “good from five feet away.”
- Flat paint’s my go-to too, especially in hallways where the light can be brutal.
- For closets, I’ve even left a few nail pops if they’re not catching on anything. Not worth the extra sanding dust.
- Curious—anyone tried those lightweight joint compounds? I still use the old stuff because that’s what I learned on, but I hear the dust isn’t as bad.
- Also, what’s your take on mesh tape vs. paper? I keep going back to paper, even though mesh is supposed to be faster. Maybe I’m just stubborn...
Flat paint is a lifesaver for hiding those little imperfections, especially in weird old hallways where the light just loves to show off every bump. I’ve tried the lightweight joint compound a couple times—honestly, it’s not bad for small patches, and the dust is definitely less of a nightmare. Still, for bigger seams, I end up back with the regular stuff. As for tape, I’m team paper too. Mesh always seems to crack on me down the road, even if it’s faster at first. Maybe it’s just habit, but paper feels more forgiving when things aren’t perfectly square... which is basically every project in these old houses.